Lens-grinding apparatus



May 20 1924. '1,494,333 C. L.. BAUSCH v LENS GRINDING APPARATUS;

Original Filed Sent. 17. 1921 Y I N VEN TOR.

Patented May 20, 1924.

Unirse STATES PATE-Nr .1 Fris., g

CARI. L. nauscmor ROCHESTER, NRW izo-Ric, nssrenoaro nausea a noire OPTICAL COMPANY, or ROCHESTER, Nnw Yoan, A oo:eroae'rieit or new YORK.

LENS-GRINDING APPARAT'U'SQ,

Original application led September 17,1921, Serial No. 501,397. Divided and yapplication' 'led March 21, 1923. Serial No. 626,54-f1.

To all lwhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL L. BAUsoH, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe v and State of New York, have invented certain 5 new and useful Improvements in Lens- Grinding Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,gform ing a part of this specification, and tothe reference numerals marked thereon. v

This invention relates toI lens grinding ap-y paratus of the variety adapted for grinding the peripheral edges of eye glass and spectacle lenses to produce the desired shapes and sizes, the chief object of the invention being to provide a simple and efficient positioning device or clamp for gripping one or more lens blanks and locating the same in the blank holding means of the grinding machine with the blank optical center and axis accurately positioned with relation to the pattern or form ofthe machines. -To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements. and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel rfeatures being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification. Y y l0 In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a lens positioning clamp embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same on the line 23- a in Figure 3 showing the device applied to the holding means or spindle of the grinding machine.

Figure 3 is a View similar lto Figure 1 showing the parts yin different -positionand applied to the spindle of a grinding-machine; Figure 4 is an elevationof lthe clamp as seen from the left in Figure 3 Vwith the grinding machine spindle in section. .1

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevationof a portion of the clamp as viewed from the line *1 5* in Figure 3; W

Figure 6 illustrates a lens blank marked for cooperation with the positioning clamp. Similar `reference numerals`r throughout theseveral views indicate the same parts.-y

The present inventionl is partlcularly adapted for use with an edge grinding-machine. such for example as disclosedlinmy I co-pending application." for Letters Patent Serial No. 501,397, iled`September 17, 1921, for lensgrinding machines, of which' vthe present applicationt is'a division. rlihe invention inA its present4 embodiment comprises, preferably, aclamping member,`10, having aplate-like lenlargement 11v at one end forked to provide spacedarms 12 the inner sides'yof which are connected by a circular contact portion yor surface ,13, AFigure 5, adapted toiit the cylindrical extremity 14@` of a blank holding spindle 1 5 ofa grinding machine. Member 10 is formed also with .a lateral extension 16 Vthe upper side of which comprises fiat contact surfaces 17 arranged at an angle withfeach other, as shown in Figure 5.. Lens spindle 15 is yformedl adjacent its cylindrical end portion 14. with Het surfaces 18 arranged at the sameangle with each other as the .clamp surfaces 17, it being apparent that clampjmember 10 may be apf plied to the spindle end as shown in Figures 2 and 3 withits surfaces `13 and k17 in engagementwithjthe spindle surfaces 14: and 18L res p ectively,"and that by this means the lens gripped by thcclampl and positioned thereonas hereaftery described maybe accurately located on Athefspindle of they grinding machine. .Fortionfll' of' clamp member 10 carries. onrmoneside of its/ forked end a plurality of gripping knobs`19.. ofany suitable material forueiiectively gripping and holdingthe lens surface. y

An opposing-`clamp" member`20 is movably .carriedo'n'memberlO by means com- Prisina nlcfsrab,1yapair` 0f tubular Supports F2 1 spaced'from-each other on opposite margins of niemb-er` 10. Sliding in each tubel'isanfenlarged portion 2 2 of a rod 23 slidingalso a guide bearingin member 10 .and having, ;th e' opposingclamp member 20 fixed on its outer Rods 23 are .moved to carry member 2Qtoward andfrom member 10 tQ'-grip and release a lens blank by fmeansdescribed below' Member 2O has at its upper "ends forked arms 249 preferably curvedfoutwar'dly ,and spaced apart to clear the other ,spindleq25 of the grinding machine.y rArms v2/ifare proyided with lens engaging knobsl 26l similarfto the knobs of member 10, `it being f apparent that a lens blank, properly ylocated between the clamp members -in' the manner hereafter described maybe grippedbyftheiattnand applied @e already described to the holding spindles of the grinding machine.

kkThe means for positioning the blank between the clamp members comprises pref-l erably a part 27 pivotal'ly supported Aat 28 adjacent the bottom of member 20 and carrying at itsl outer end a plurality o-f con- `tact points 29 preferably yieldably supported on part 27 by the spring device 30, as shown in Figure 3. These points, of which there are in the present instance3, are located in alignment-With each other for registry and engagement with marks 3l and 32 placed on the lens blank, as shown in Figure 6, to indicate the optical .axis'and center respectively, of the blank. When-.the latter is placed between the separated gripping members of the .clamp and gripped thereby, part 27 is moved to the position shown in Figure l and theblank adjusted to bring the described marks vinto registry with the contact points 29. yWith the lens thus accurately located in the clamp, part 27 may be swung to inoperative position at one side, as shown in yFigure 3,\so as to clear spindle 25, When the clamp -is ready for .application tothe lens holding spindle vof the grinding machine to position the yblank thereon. it being understoodk of course that one of such spindles is longitudinally movable to separate lthem Whilethe blank is being inserted or removed. Aspring 33 is provided for holding part -27 in its different positions, being arranged't'o ypass over the pivotal center 28 of part"27 as yshown ,to retain .the latter in either position l'to which it is moved. .It is apparent that after, one lens blank has been *located as described on clamp member 10, oneor more additional blanks may be successively located against the first in the manner described, as `Well understood inthe art,

The means for moving clamping members 10 and 20 toward and from each other comprises, preferably, a spring 34 coiled about each rod 23 in its tubular support 2l and bearing against clamp member 10 at one end and at the other againstthe =enlargement22 of the rod to resiliently rpressthe'clamping vmembers toward each l'other fto Tgrip `-the blank. Rods23 are connected by atrans verse pin 35 engaged Vby the yforked upper end of an arm 36 pivoted-at'? on the lower end of-clamp member '10. IMembers 11'0 and 36 thus form a .convenient handle portion for the device or clamp and by pressing these yparts toward` eachother, the Aclamp may be conveniently .lfopene'd-,andheld in such position while adj.usfting a blank.

Y In operation .clamp Vmember Q10 jan'djarm 36 Yare jgrasped in 'one hand and tpressefdl together therebyseparating members 10 and "20. `A blankis inserted between and gripped ffby -the ,1l-9 and 26 vfof "tliese;mein- 'bers and part 27 swung "to the position shown in Figure l. The blank is then adjusted to locate its markings 3l and 32 in registry with the contact points 29, the center one .of which cooperating ivithftheblank mark 32 positionsthe blank concentrically of the clamp With respect to its optical center. The outer contact points 29, When coinciding With the outer blank marks 31 of "the optical axis, accurately locate theblank 'in this respect also relative to the clamp.

lVth the blank thus precisely located in the clamp, part 27 islsivung 'downwardly to the out-of-the-Way position shown in Figure 3 and the clamp is applied to the lens holding spindle of the grinding machine with its contact portions or surfaces 13 and 17 in engagement with the corresponding surfaces Al'and 18, respectively, .of the ,blank holding spindle. This obviously locates the clamp accurately with reference to the machine spindle so that the blank optical center and axis arep-recisely located with reference ,to the usual pattern or form controlling the edge grinding operation as Well understood in the art. When the abutting ends of the holding spindles ofthe grinding machine have 'been brought into gripping lrelation With one vor more blanks so located inthe machine, the clamp is manipulated to sepa-` rate its gripping members, after which it maybe Withdrawn.

As apparent from the above description and the drawingsthe construction is exceed? ingly simple, practical and eiiicient and of such a nature .as to insure a high degree of precision in rpositioning the blank by reason, among theother advantageous `features de scribed. ofthe provision of contact points for actual engagement with the markings of the blank to position the latter Withoutreliance upon purely visual or sighting adjustments betvveen'theblank and indices or markings of the clamp, as frequently necessary in some prior devices. ltis apparent also that the present clamp is not only accurate in operation butconven'ient and eX- `peditious in use as Well. i

I claim as my invention:

1.,A.,elamp for positioning a. lens in a lens ,edgey grinding machine comprising relativelymovablemembers for gripping'a lens blank and a device movably carried by one of said Vmembers .havingcontact points for cooperation with marked portions of lthe blank to position the latter 'between said membrs,

k"2. A clamp for'positi'oning a lens' in a lens edge grinding machine comprising relatively movable members for gripping a lens :blank and a device on one of said members provided With Ia partjfor cooperation vwith theflens to locate the lsame between said @membersfandmovable to operative position and tol-aninoperative position spaced from "thelens. i

3.r A clamp for positioning a lens in a lens edge grinding machine comprising relatively'movable members for gripping a lens blank from opposite sides thereof, said clamp being provided With contact portions for engagement with corresponding portions on said grinding machine to locate the clamp concentrically and at the desired angle of rotation relative to the latter, and a device movably carried by one of said clamp members having contact points for cooperation with marked portions of a blank to position the latter concentrically and at the desired angle of rotation relative to said clamp.

4. Ai clamp for positioning a lens in a lens edge grinding machine comprising relatively movable members for gripping a lens blank from opposite sides thereof, said clamp being provided With contact portions for engagement with corresponding portions on said grinding machine to locate the clamp concentrically and at the desired angle of rotation relative to the latter, and a device movably carried by one of said clamp members having a contact point for cooperation With a center mark of a lens and also a contact point for cooperation with a mark representing an axis of said lens to locate the latter concentrically relative to the clamp and at a desired angle of rotation.

5. A clamp for positioning a lens in a lens edge grinding machine comprising a pair of relatively movable members'for gripping opposite sides of a lens blank, resilient means normally urging said members into gripping relation, and a device on one of said members provided with a contact point for cooperation with the lens to locatevthe same between said members and movable to operative position and to an inoperative position spaced from the lens.

6. A clamp for positioning a lensin a lens edge grinding machine comprising relatively movable members for gripping a lens blank from opposite sides thereof, said clamp being provided with contact portions for engagement with corresponding por` tions on said grinding machine to locate the clamp concentrically and at the desired.

angle of rotation relative to the latter, and a. device carried by one of said clamp members for movement thereon to and from operative position having a plurality of contact points for cooperation with respective markings of a lens to locate the latter concentrically and at the desired angle of rotation relative to said clamp.

7. A clamp for positioning a lens in a lens edge grinding machine comprising a pair of relatively movable members having substantially U-shaped portions for gripping the edges of a lens from opposite sides, resilient means normally urging said members into gripping relation, and a device pivoted on one of said members having contact points for engaging and locating a lens between said members and movable to lens engaging position and also to a position spaced from the lens.

CARL L. BAUSCH. 

